You might have a permanent cold - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

You might have a permanent cold

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JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

In a two-year study, researchers in Canada took nasal swabs from over five hundred university students during their peak cold and flu season.

They found as many as sixty percent of students were infected with rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold. However, they didn't have any symptoms.

These students can still spread the virus to people around them.

The researchers say students who reported cold symptoms had higher levels of rhinovirus in their system.

Experts say frequent handwashing is the best way to prevent a cold.

- Study presented at the 2012 General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
- Study conducted at McMaster University in Canada.

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